Universal electric connector



Nov.19 1940. GQPRICE 2,221,925

' UNIVERSAL ELECTRIC CONNECTOR I I Filed May 26, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l Attorneys Nov. 19, 1940. G. PRICE UNIVERSAL ELECTRIC CONNECTOR 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 Filed May 26, 1939 Inventor Attorneys Patented Nov, ,1 6

7 1 UNITED STATES ELECTRIQ' CONNECTOR Garfield Price, Gary, Ind. Application May 26, 1939, Serial No. 275,978

lclaim.

This invention relates. to a universal electric connector for extension cords and similar devices, and has for the primary object the provision of an eflicient and inexpensive connector 5 which may be readily plugged in or pushed into an electric output of a conventional construction or threaded into an.electric output of the screw threaded type and which will provide for safety against electric shocks while being han- 10 died in the application and removal thereof from the electric output. 7

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of 5 parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which,

I Figure l is a side elevation illustrating a universal electric connector constructed in accordance with my invention. 1

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is an end elevation illustrating the device with the screw threaded plug portion removed. A V Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

80 Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view illus-' -trating the insulated casing of the device.

Figure 6 is a side elevation illustrating the reversible contact supporting plug.

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view illustrating 85 a slight modification of the invention. Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating one of the contacts.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a casing constructed of ingo sulating material and of tubular formation having a portion thereof reduced to form a neck 6 through which is adapted to extend an electric extension cord 1, the conductors 8 of which after entering the casing are provided with 45. coiled portions 9 for the purpose of permitting the conductors to be extended and shortened as desired.

The casing S'upon the-interior thereof and at the enlarged end portion has its internal diam- 50 eter increased which forms an annular shoulder l acting as a seat for a removable contact plug ll of insulated material. Said latter-named end portion of the casing upon opposite sides thereof and upon the interior isprovided with ribs I2 85 adapted to have seating relation with grooves l3 tacts (c ne-s61) formed in opposite walls of the contact plug I I. The contact plug when inserted in the casing has a frictional fit therewith. The contact plug II is further provided with oppositely arranged grooves l4 extending from end to end thereof in which are positioned contact elements l5 which project beyond opposite ends of the contact plug H and are held within the plug by set screws l6 which further act to secure the electric conductors 86 to the contacts I5. 10

It will be seen by reference to the drawings that the contact plug II when seated against the g internal shoulder of the casing has the'outer end thereof fiush with the large open end of the casing with the contacts projecting a selected distance beyond theopen end of the casing for connection with a plug-type fitting l'l constructed of insulated material and which includes the usual central contact l8 and the ferrule threaded type contact l9, one of the cong0 l5 being electrically connected to the central con-tact l8 while the other contact I5 is electrically connected to the ferrule type contact l9. It is to be understood that the contacts area insertible in the plug type fitting i1 so that the latter can be easily removed when desired. The plug type fitting l1 permits the connector to be readily adapted into an electric output of the screw threaded socket type. Should it be desired to connect the connector to an electric output having spaced contact receiving sockets of the usual type, the contact plug II is removed and replaced in the casing 5 in a reverse position so as to present the other ends of the contacts l5 outwardly of the casing so that they may be plugged into the latter-named type of electric output.

As shown in Figure 7 the contact carrying plug ll may be constructed of sections, the sections being detachably connected by a tie bolt 40 20. In mounting the contacts ii in either of the types of contact plugs II it is to be understood that the contacts I5 extendthrough openings provided .therefor with the heads of the contact screws l6 lying in the grooves I4 so as 5 to permit the conductors to be connected thereto and also to permit the conductors to extend into the screws without pinching or binding.

From the foregoing description taken in con- I nection with the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that a very simple, practical and durable connector has been provided with an extension cord wherein the connector may be used in conjunction with either the plug-in type or screw threaded type of electric output through a ter, a plug having a snug fit in the lar e part a' simple rearrangement or adjustment of the contact carrying plug of the device.

It is believed that the foregoing description,

when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the construction and advantages .of this invention to those skilled in the art to which such device relates, so that further de-' tailed description will not be required.

Having described the invention, I claim: l An electric connector comprising a casing formed of non-conducting material and including a cylindrical part and a reduced tubular part at one end of the cylindrical part, the

other end 01' the cylindrical part beihg open and theopen end portion being of greater diameter than the rest of the cylindrical portions, the

junction of the large diameter, part with the other part forming an internal shoulder and oppositely arranged projections formed on the inner wall of the part having the large diamesaid plug having portions inserted in the plug and their end portions projecting from opposite ends of the plug, screws passing transverselyinto the plug and through the middle portions of the prong forming members, cated in'the middle portions of the large grooves, an electric extension cord passing into the reduced tubular portion and including conductors having coiled portions confined within the cylindrical part of the casing and having their ends entering the large grooves and connected with the screws.

GARFIELD PRICE.

the heads of the screws being 10- 

